Railway car



0. A. KUHLER May 6, 1952 RAILWAY CAR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1946 0. A. KUHLER May 6, 1952 RAILWAY CAR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1946 fio wgfizler ATTORNEY Patented May 6, 1952 RAILWAY CAR Otto A. Kuhler, Blauvelt, N. Y., assignor to American Car and Foundry Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 9, 1946, Serial No. 653,293

19 Claims. 1

. This invention relates to railway cars in general and in particular to specific lighting equipment for use in railway cars.

The evolution in railway car lighting has been from kerosene lamps through Pintsch gas to electric lighting without any great change in location or fixtures in the car. Some attempts have been made at indirect lighting but again such indirect lights were arranged where most convenient and without proper consideration being given the passenger.

Railway cars have also consistently been built with curtains to cover the window and this irrespective of whether the window would be used by two persons seated side by side or four persons as is the case with present large windows. It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to improve the appearance of the railway car interior, both by day and by night, by lowering the source of direct artificial light nearer to the reading zone and covering only a portion of the window by means of decorative drapes capable of absorbing sound.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combined lighting fixture, drape carrier and wiring conduit.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a lighting fixture so arranged as to increase the safety to the passengers and strength the car by extending the same across the window opening intermediate the upper and lower edges.

Yet another object of the invention is the pro vision of a continuous light fixture arranged along the side of the car slightly above the head of a seated passenger, which fixture is so designed as to give proper direct light without interference with a passenger's'eyes when looking along the length of the car.

. An added object of the invention is the provision of a night light which adds materially to the decorative effect of the car by providing a sunburst eifect on the pier panels.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from a study of the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of a railway car with the improved lighting system applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper window portion light unit and baggage rack;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through the pier panels and substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view but on a larger scale taken through the improved lighting unit substantially on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view but on a larger scale taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 3 but disclosing a slight modification in the manner of support, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of substantially more than half of a railway car showing the invention applied thereto.

Referring to the drawings now in detail, it will be seen that the railway car is of more or less conventional form having a center sill 2, side sills 4, plate 6, floor 8 and roof Ill. The side sill and side plate are joined together by posts I4 to which are attached side sheets [6 both above, below and between the windows W. The posts, of course, are not evenly spaced but are spaced close together to give wide spacing for the large windows and the closely spaced posts have attached thereto inside trim l8 which will form the pier panels, most clearly shown in Fig. 3. Arms 20 (Figs. 1 and 2) are attached to the side posts and extend inwardly of the car to support a baggage rack floor 22 and baggage retaining rail 26. The under surface of the baggage rack is covered by a continuous curved sheet 28 extending from end to end of the car and between the window headers 30 and outer baggage retaining rail 24. The under surface of this curved sheet 28 is preferably coated with some light reflecting material properly tinted to blend in with the decorative scheme of the car interior and the sheet is also so shaped as to give maximum reflection and distribution of light to the passengers irrespective of their position in the car.

The car is preferably illuminated by a single source of light fixture L extending substantially from end to end of the car and fastened to the pier panels or posts and extending across the window openings intermediate the top and bottom edges thereof. The light fixture, as most clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is either cast or built up of extruded sections having a fiat back surface 40 terminating at its upper edge in an angle shaped portion 42 and provided adjacent its lower portion with a U-shaped notch 44. From adjacent the U-shaped notch a wall member 46 extends at an incline and merges into a bottom wall portion 48, the outer edge of which is provided with a U-shaped groove 50 and the lower portion of which is provided with an opening 52 partially closed by flanges 54 spaced apart sufficiently to provide a slot 56. At certain spaced intervals bracket members 58 (Fig. 3) are attached to the back member and these are connected together by flanged 2 members 60 (Figs. 5 and 6). These flanged 2 members provide, due to the flange, a groove 62 on one side and a ledge forming flange 64 on the other side. The flange 42 and flange 64 provide support for a curved sheet of clear glass or plastic 66, while grooves 56 and 62 are adapted to receive a section of curved plastic 68. This curved glass or plastic 68 is provided with closely spaced opaque or translucent portions 76 so that in effect a difiraction grating is formed forcing the light to be projected transversely of the car, thereby preventing interference with a persons eyes when looking longitudinally of the fixture. The portion 68 may be formed by placing relatively deep scratches or saw cuts in the plastic and either leaving these cuts plain or filling them with a paint or coloring material. In case plastic is saw cut it may be possible to eliminate the intermediate tie member 66 and forming the plastic so that the upper portion would be clear and correspond to the part 66 and the side portion slotted so as to correspond to the portion 68.

The opening 52 with its inturned flanges 54 provide a runway or tracks for drape carriers "H (Fig. 5), while slot 44 is adapted to receive the upper edge of a curved plate 12 which can be fastened to a flange 13 by any suitable means such as screws 14. This curved plate together with the inclined wall 46 of the wall fixture provides suflicient space for all necessary wiring 15. The back surface 40 and inclined wall 46 provide suitable support for light brackets 16 to which are fastened standard fixtures carrying the ends of fluorescent tubes 18. These tubes extend continuously across the window openings and are interrupted only at certain of the pier panels, at which interrupted spaces supports 19 are placed carrying small night lights 80. These night lights are covered by metal housings 8i slotted on the upper side as at 82 so as to project light rays from the light 86 upwardly along the pier panel. By making the light 80 of relatively low wattage and selecting the proper color a sunburst effect will be obtained on the pier panels when the night lights are on. This sunburst effect adds materially to the appearance of the car while at the "same time giving a very soft light which will not interfere with passengers sleeping, yet provide sufficient light for the taking of tickets and moving around in the car.

From the preceding description it will be seen that the light rays originating at the fluorescent tube or other light source 18 can pass outwardly of the fixture through curvedme'mber 68 andin planes extending transversely of the vehicle. As indicated most clearly in Fig. 2, the spread of these transversely extending direct light rays will be between lines 84 and 85. 'The light rays passing out through the clear glass or member 66 can, of course, radiat in all directions and will have a spread between the side wall of the car and line 86 of Fig. 2. These upwardly directed rays passing through the clear glass 66, and indicated collectively by lines 81, will strike the curved surface of the plate 28 and be reflected downwardly in the manner indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus it will be seen, particularly from Fig. 1, that the direct light rays passing through clear glass 66 will indirectly provide illumination for passengers on either side of the vehicle. Likewise, the rays escaping through the louvered portion 68 will provide direct illumination principally to the passengers on the adjacent side of the car, but will also provide some direct illumination to passengers on the opposite side of the car. It will also be seen that a small amount of light escaping through the clear glass 66 will miss the edge of the baggage rack and illuminate the ceiling as well as providing some slight illumination to'the upper surfac of the baggage rack itself. Likewise, a small amount of illumination will be provided to the ceiling and baggage rack upper surface by rays escaping through the louvered portion 68. It will be evident, however, that the bulk of the illumination provided the passengers located in the seats S will be supplied directly through the louvered portion 68 and by the indirect illumination from the under surface of the baggage rack. Due to the louvered portion 68 forcing the light rays to escape only in transverse planes passengers looking along the length of the car can not be bothered by the light source 18 being located so close to their line of vision and all that they will be conscious of is a long strip of softly glowing plastic. This will add materially to the appearance of the car as will also the bright illumination provided to the under side of the baggage racks. This bright illumination to the under side of the baggage racks, coupled with the very slight illumination to the car ceiling, will give the impression that the car is much wider and will not direct passengers attention to the unsightly luggage and packages located in the baggage racks. The night lights located at the pier panels will, due to their sunburst effect on the pier panels, also increase tremendously the attractiveness of the vehicle interior.

To provide as nearly as possible the equivalent or better lighting during the day time the windows which are of the double type having spaced panes of glass G are provided preferably with fixed louvers spaced apart and inclined slightly so as to prevent direct sun rays from striking the passengers in the vehicle. These louvers will, due to their inclination and spacing, not prevent passengers from looking out through the upper portion of the window when standing in order to observe people or objects on the car platforms. The louvers 90 preferably have the under surface dulled slightly, such as a brush aluminum finish would give, whereas the upper surfaces are preferably polished so as to collect the light rays 92 and project them inwardly and upwardly against the under surface of the baggage racks, Which will in turn reflect them downwardly to the seated passengers. This source of daylight illumination will, of course, function at all times irrespective of whether or not the drapes carried on hangers ll are pulled across the lower or clear portion of the windows. Thus, even if the sun coming through the lower portion of the Window bothers the person seatedadjacent the window, their pulling of the drape to blot out the sun will not materially affect the illumination either to themselves or to their companion since the light entering through the louvered portion is sufficient to provide ample illumination for reading. Tests have proven that with the drapes pulled the illumination will be greater than twenty foot candles at the reading zone. It should also be noticed that the soft under surface of the louvers will be illuminated at night by the rays escaping from the fluorescent tube through clear portion 66. This will give the impression to passengers that light .is

entering the car through the upper portion of the windows. This will also materially increase the attractiveness of the vehicle interior.

As described the light fixture has been attached to the pier panel trim and extends across the windows, but in some cases it may be desirable to increase the strength of the fixture and add to the safety of the vehicle and in such cases a heavy high tensile steel backing plate 95 (Fig. 6) can be rigidly attached to the posts and be coextensive with the light fixtures which can be connected to this heavy plate. This heavy plate 94 will materially strengthen the car structure by stabilizing the posts at the wide window openings and also be of assistance in preventing injury to passengers in cases of derailments where the vehicle may be turned on its side. Irrespective of whether or not the heavy plate 94 is used, it is desired that the window louvers 90 extend downwardly substantially to a horizontal plane through the lower portion of the light fixture. In this way the car from the exterior will appear to have large windows with Venetian type blinds drawn down approximately over the upper third of the window. Also, lowering the louvers this amount increases the amount of light gathered for reflection onto the under surface of the baggage rack.

- While the invention has been described more or less in detail with specific reference to the drawings, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements may be made and all such modifications and rearrangements are contemplated as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway car the combination of a side wall, a plurality of windows in the side wall, pier panels separating the windows, a lighting fixture extending completely across each window and separating pier panel between the upper and lower edges of the window and anchored to the car at the pier panels, said lighting fixture serving as a reinforcement for the car structure in the window area.

2. In a railway car the combination of a side wall, windows in the side wall, side posts between the windows, inside trim covering said side post, gaps in said trim adjacent said side post, and a fiat plate like stiffener member fastened to the side posts in the gaps between said inside trim, said stiffener extending across the windows between the top and bottom edges thereof and closing the gaps in said inside trim,

3. In a railway car the combination of a side wall, windows in the side wall, side posts between the windows, inside trim covering said side post, gaps in said trim adjacent said side post, and a fiat plate like stiffener member fastened to the side posts in the gaps between said inside trim, said stiffener extending across the windows between the top and bottom edges thereof, said stiffener being additionally strengthened by a lighting fixture extending continuously substantially from end to end of the car and secured to said stiffener member.

4. In a railway car the combination of a side wall, windows in the side wall, pier panels separating the windows, a lighting fixture extending completely across each window between the upper and lower edges thereof and anchored to the car at the pier panels, said lighting fixture including a bottom portion stiffened by a downwardly open groove which is partially closed by inwardly directed bottom flanges.

5. In a railway car the combination of a side wall, windows in the side wall, pier panels separating the windows, a lighting fixture extending completely across each window between the upper and lower edges thereof and anchored to the car at the pier panels, said lighting fixture including an upright back portion and an outwardly directed bottom portion, said bottom portion being stiffened by a downwardly open groove terminating in inwardly directed bottom flanges, said lighting fixture including also a closed conduit for reception of wiring located between said stiffening groove and upright back portion.

6. In a railway car the combination of a side wall, a plurality of windows in the side wall, pier panels separating the windows, a lighting fixture extending substantially from end to end of the car completely across the pier panels and windows intermediate the upper and lower edges of the windows, relatively high intensity lights located in said fixture at the windows, the upper portions of the fixture in the zone of the windows transmitting the high intensity light upwardly into the car and the side portions thereof in the zone of the windows transmitting the light downwardly and transversely of the car in spaced parallel planes, and relatively low intensity lights located in said fixture at the pier panels and having the low intensity light thereof directed upwardly onto the upper portion of the pier panels.

7'. In a railway car the combination of a side wall, a plurality of windows in the side wall, pier panels separating the windows, a lighting fixture extending substantially from end to end of the car completely across the pier panels and windows intermediate the upper and lower edges of the windows, relatively high intensity lights located in said fixture at the windows, the upper portions of the fixture in the zone of the windows transmitting the high intensity light upwardly into the car and the side portions thereof in the zone of the windows transmitting the light downwardly and transversely of the car in spaced parallel planes, and relatively low intensity lights located in said fixture at the pier panels, said low intensity lights being covered by a grating so arranged as to direct the low intensity light upwardly onto the upper portion of the pier panels and produce a sunburst effect on said pier panels when said low intensity lights are illuminated.

8. In a railway car the combination of a side wall, windows in the side wall, a baggage rack secured to the car side above the windows, upwardly. sloping louvers in the upper portion of the windows for directing day light onto the under side of the baggage rack, a light fixture extending across the windows adjacent to but above the lower edge of said louvers and between the upper and lower edges of the window, and

lights in said light fixture, the upper portion of the fixture being clear for directing light rays upwardly onto the inner side of said louvers and underside of said baggage rack to illuminate the car.

9. In a railway car the combination of a side wall, windows in the side wall, a baggage rack secured to the car side above the windows, upwardly sloping louvers in the upper portion of the windows for directing day light onto the under side of the baggage rack, said louvers being provided with light deflecting inner surfaces, 2. light fixture extending across the windows adjacent to but above the lower edge of said louvers and between the upper and lower edges of the window, and lights in said light fixture, the upper portion of said light fixture being clear for directing light rays upwardly onto the inner side of said louvers and underside of said baggage rack, said light fixture including drape tracks for supporting drapes capable of closing. the clear lower. portions of. said windows below said light fixtures and louvers, whereby said louvered areas serve as the sole source of daylight illumination for the car.

10. In a railway car the combinationof a side wall, windows in the side wall, a light fixture extending substantially horizontally across the windows intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof, andupwardly sloping louvers extending substantially horizontally across the entire upper portion of. .the window above the. lower edge of the. light fixture and having both the outer and inner surfaces adapted to direct daylight upwardly and inwardly of the car, said light fixture including a light source capable of illuminating the inner surface of said louvers and car interior.

11. In a railway car the combination of side walls, windows in the side walls, and longitudinally extending light fixtures secured to and substantially coextensive with the side walls and located below the horizontal plane through the upper edge of the windows but above the lower edge thereof, said longitudinally extending light fixtures and windows together providing the sole source of illumination for the portions of the car above said horizontal plane.

12. As an article of manufacture, an elongated light fixture substantially tubular in crosssection, and having a flattened upright mounting portion, and an an ularly disposed lower portion including therein a groove of inverted U- shape in cross section partially closed by inwardly directed lower flanges.

13. As an article of manufacture, an elongated light fixture substantially tubular in cross-section, and having a flattened upright mounting portion, and an angularly disposed lower portion including therein a groove of inverted U-shape in cross section partially closed by inwardly directed lower flanges, and a closed wire receiving conduit located between said groove and flattened upright mounting portion.

14. In a railway car the combination of a side wall, a plurality of windows in the side wall, seat backs located in the car adjacent the side wall, Wall stiffening means secured to the interior of the side wall above the seat backs and beneath the top of the windows, said stiffening means extending substantially from end to end of the car across the windows, and a source of light mounted on said stifiening means and substantially coextensive therewith.

15. In a railway car the combination of a side wall, a window in the side wall, a seat back located in the car adjacent the side wall, a wall stiffening plate secured to the side wall above the seat back and extending across the window in downwardly spaced relation to the upper edge thereof, and a lighting fixture secured to the inner side of said stiffening plate to additionally strengthen said plate, said fixture containing a source of light for the car.

16. In a railway car the combination of a side wall, a window in the side wall, a seat back located in the car adjacent the side wall, a wall stiffening plate secured to the side wall aboye the seat back and extending across the window in downwardly spaced relation to the upper edge thereof, and a lighting fixture secured to the inner sideof said stifiening, plate andcontaining; a sourceof: lightior the car, said lighting fixture having aclear upper portion directly illuminating the upper portions of the car and the. side portions of said fixture being louvered and illuminating the lower portion of the. car by light directed transversely of the car in spaced parallel planes.

17. In a railway car the combination of a side wall, a plurality of windows in the. side wall, a baggage rack secured to the side wall. above the windows, seats located beneath the baggage rack and adjacent the side wall, a continuous lighting fixture extending substantially from end to end of the car across the windows intermediate the baggage rack and seat backs and below the tops.

of the, windows, a. source of light insaid fixture and substantially coextensive therewith, the upper portion of said lighting fixture transmitting light from said source upwardly onto the underside of the baggage rack thereabove, and means in the inner side portion of said fixture directing light from said source laterally and downwardly onto the seats in parallel planes extending transversely of the car.

18. In a railway car the combination of spaced side walls, a plurality of windows in the side walls, baggage racks, secured to the spaced side walls above the windows, seats located beneath the baggage racks and adjacent the side walls, a substantially continuous lighting fixture secured to each side wall and extending substantially from end to end of the car across the windows intermediate the baggage racks and. seats, a source of light in said fixture, a light transmitting top portion in each. fixture sending light. from said source upwardly onto the underside, of the baggage rack thereabove, and means forming the inner side portion of each fixture and directing light from said source in planes extending transversely of the car downwardly onto the seats and onto the baggage rack at the opposite side of the car.

19. As an article of manufacture, an elongated light fixture of substantially tubular cross-section and having a flattened upright mounting portion, an outstanding lower portion, an inclined part joining said upright and outstanding portions, an intermediate portion extending substantially parallel to the free edges of the upright and lower portions, grooves formed in the free edges of each of said portions, a substantially clear light transmitting material resting in the adjacent grooves of said upright and intermediate portions, and louvered light transmitting material insertable in the adjacent grooves of said intermediate and lower portions by flexing of the material, said material having the louvers so arranged as to cause the light to be transmitted in, planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fixture.

OTTO A. KUHLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,112,856 Sisson Oct. 6, 1914' 1,771,444 Monk July 29, 1930 1,786,787 Steinmeyer Dec. 30, 1930 (Other references on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Larson et a1 Aug. 31, 1937 Schepmoes Nov. 16, 1937 Erikson Jan. 24, 1939 Arenberg June 20, 1939 Doane Sept. 26, 1939 Hagerty et a1 Dec. 26, 1939 Stewart Jan. 21, 1941 Alm n June 10, 1941 Doan Oct. 7, 1941 OTHER REFERENCES Car Builders Cyclopedia, Seventeenth Edition- 1946, published by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp., 30 Church Street, New York 7, New York, page 856. 

